First, I need to say that epic fantasy is my least favorite genre. Somehow I got the impression that this was more science fiction than fantasy, so when I started reading, it took me a long time to get into the story. Some of the issues I had with the book may be genre issues, so I wanted to be sure to mention that I don't usually read epic fantasy.

The plot is great. Leoros and Atlantia are trying to save the world while dealing with war, death, and betrayal. Silverman did a great job with his world-building. I could see the PAVs zipping around the skies and crystal highways, and I could feel the cold when Atlantia was on the Plateau. I actually cared about the characters, too, which is always the sign of a good story. Even the dialogue was realistic and believable, which is a big deal with me.

I'm not sure the sex scenes were integral to the story, but most of my complaints about the book probably come down to editing and proofreading. The book switches tenses in a few places (mid-sentence in one case) and switches POV in the middle of paragraphs. The descriptions of places were a little dry and more "tell" than "show", but the descriptions of the action were great. I'm not sure why we needed to hear every aspect of the story from every character. Maybe that's one of those genre-specific issues I mentioned, but it's annoying, repetitive, and makes the book much longer than it needs to be.

Speaking of repetitive, how many times must we be told that Shirin moves like a dancer when she's fighting?

This is the first of seven books in the series, and it's going to be one of those series that you will have to read completely through to get answers. I don't want to give too much away, but one of the main points reiterated throughout the story was never actually addressed at the end, and, in fact, the end is completely counter to what we learn throughout the rest of the book.

If I were rating this book, I'd give it three stars, and most of the issues could be cleared up with a good edit and proofread. It is a good story, with a good message, and if you like epic fantasy, you'd probably enjoy the story.

"If you believe in yourself, you have the power to change the world." - Joshua Silverman, Legends of Amun Ra - The Emerald Tablet

I received the book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Legends of Amun Ra: The Emerald Tablet is a Sci-fi/Fantasy book and not something I would usually choose for myself. I was a bit uncomfortable reading the opening scene though as it began with a father choking his six year old daughter. However, I really enjoyed reading it. It was full of adventure and mythology which I liked. During the book we meet a young boy who is destined to save the world. The only thing I didn’t really like was the extra added history written there was a lot of information to process obviously the author had researched a great deal but I think a light dusting over it would have been better. I did like the author’s humour. ( )

You are thrown into a world of ancient history and intrigue. This certainly sets the pace for this young adult adventure story. A great choice for those who enjoy Indiana Jones type sci fi. For my full review please visit Literary Chanteuse blog http://literarychanteuse.com/?p=182 3.5 stars ( )

The Emerald Tablet is a multi point-of-view, suspense driven mystery that delves into Greek and Egyptian mythology, with science fiction and fantasy twists. Phew. It’s not a fast paced read, but it’s not a slow read either. The pacing fits with most epic fantasy books, and like them, encompasses you into its world.

With all multi point of view novels, there isn’t necessarily a clear cut main character. You see the events of the present from different characters. I’ve always loved this point-of-view for this very reason. Instead of a one sided look at a situation or scene, you get two or more, but each voice moves the story forward. Well done, this is quite tricky to accomplish and why there aren’t many stories that tackle this style.

Each character is unique, and each has strengths and weaknesses that are fitting and believable. Leoros is a kid whose parents traipse him around the globe. He has no real friends, and spends his free time in fantasy play. If I had to choose a main character out of them all, Leoros would fit the bill. He’s the kid from Earth, the one who heard the voice of Pythos, and walked through the pillar.

While human, he’s still unique, a prophesied child bearing a sacred mark. When he arrives in this strange world, he finds himself imbued with magic, but unlike the others, he’s especially gifted. But there is so much more that I don’t want to give away, and of course that is the fear of a book reviewer. You see, we want you to read it too.

Anywho, this is a great story for anyone who enjoys fantasy, science fiction, action, magic, and ultimate good vs evil stories. There is some romance, but it is lightly woven into the story. While the character of Leoros is rather young (13), I wouldn’t recommend this for younger adults. There is quite a bit of violence and some other adult themes that would be suited for an older teen to adult.

I look forward to reading more!
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The Emerald Tablet by Joshua Silverman
I received this book in exchange for an unbiased honest review~~~

OK I love all this Greek and Egyptian and add a little adventure, action, and fantasy makes a deadly combination that rocks your socks off!!! This is an highly recommended read that I feel in love with!!! Can't wait to read more by this author!! This book engaged and took me by surprise ... With so many twists and turns and strong characters, there was nothing that you couldn't like about this read. The character developments are terrific not counting the scenery and description that went into writing this was astounding. I LOVED IT!! I felt like I was part of that world and I could relate to the characters. This is a fast paced breathtaking read. Hoping for more from this author!! ( )